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On February 7-8, 2025, more than 900 Sabbath School teachers, ministry leaders, and Bible students gathered to livestream the North American Division Do It Together Sabbath School Conference. The event aimed to discuss new and innovative ways to connect to the Sabbath School lesson while engaging students of every age.

On January 30, 2025, the Adventist Information Ministry board voted to rename the ministry Adventist Connect, reflecting its expansion from an evangelism contact center for media ministries into a hub supporting local churches across North America in digital outreach. This change will be implemented in stages over the coming months.

For most of the twentieth century the work in North America was led by one of the vice presidents of the General Conference. Then in 1985, with growing missional needs, the North American Division was reformulated once again as one of the 13 divisions of the world church. Charles Edward Bradford (1925-2021) would serve as the first president of this newly reformulated North American Division, beginning in 1985. This is his story — and our story.

“You’re here at PELC 2024 to see Jesus high and lifted up!” said Michelle Mota-Poyser, Northeastern Conference pastor, on night one of the Pastoral Evangelism and Leadership Council (PELC), held at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, from December 8-11. With the theme “Jesus: Praise Him, Practice Him, Preach Him,” PELC organizers emphasized a focus on Christ and the urgency of spreading the gospel amid political and social turmoil. Jesus was thus central in every message, song, and workshop.

More patients have been helped by an innovative device for stroke survivors at AdventHealth than any other health system in the country. AdventHealth Orlando is the first hospital to use the Vivistim® Paired VNS™ System to help 50 patients. This transformative device, designed to aid stroke survivors in their rehabilitation journey, has shown remarkable success in improving hand and arm function. 

The Pastoral Evangelism Leadership Council (PELC) offers spiritual renewal, inspiration, and fellowship and equips pastors, chaplains, and other ministry leaders for their roles. Established more than 40 years ago by regional conference leaders, PELC is the largest annual gathering of pastors and church leaders in the North American Division. This year, it took place from December 8 to 11, 2024. While the main English track was held in the newly renovated Oakwood University Church, PELC in Spanish was hosted at the Office for Regional Conference Ministries in Huntsville, Alabama. Planned by the Hispanic Caucus, this specialized program provided resources and training for pastors serving Hispanic communities.

The Adventist Church communication community, Global Adventist Internet Network (GAiN) Europe, in coordination with Hope Media Europe, has unveiled its latest film and media productions, and written content, under the theme My Greatest Purpose. This new global network project focuses on the theme of life purposes, bringing together the collaboration, efforts, and teamwork of numerous media centers and entities of the Adventist Church worldwide. During the 2024 GAiN Europe conference, held on November 15-19 in Budva, Montenegro, Hope Media Europe presented the results of more than two years of work: three documentary series, a narrative film, an upcoming book on “Purpose,” and new free-to-view streaming website J+.

Ken Norton, president of the Montana Conference, has accepted the Voice of Prophecy’s invitation to serve as the Discover Bible School director. He will begin his service at the ministry on March 2, 2025.

There are many in the United States who are afraid for their futures, and for the lives of family members. As a Christian denomination in the U.S., the Seventh-day Adventist Church supports the rights of all persons, no matter their country of origin — the equal rights provided in the U.S. Constitution and fair treatment as immigrants and refugees in this country. As members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, we believe that “we are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation” (Fundamental Belief No. 14). The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America encourages its churches and schools to be warm and welcoming places for all people. All are created by God and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Every AdventHealth hospital leader has two roles: chief executive officer and chief spiritual officer. While the daily demands of the first role could easily overshadow the second, AdventHealth believes the latter determines the organization’s ultimate success. A group of 17 AdventHealth CEOs recently had the opportunity to learn this lesson firsthand in Battle Creek, Mich., where, beginning in 1866, the Seventh-day Adventist Church began its commitment to extending the healing ministry of Christ through health care services to the public. The CEOs, all in the early phase of their tenures, were there as members of the inaugural class of AdventHealth’s Chief Executive Leadership Program (CELP).